WASHINGTON - US First Lady Laura Bush left Tuesday for a lightning trip to Afghanistan to highlight improvements in women's quality of life and meet with US troops still fighting Taliban and Al-Qaeda forces there.
Bush, who will be on the ground for about five hours, will meet separately with women's groups and Afghan President Hamid Karzai, and will have dinner with US troops before returning to Washington, the White House said.
"Mrs Bush has long been looking forward to visiting Afghanistan. This visit will be an opportunity to highlight the advances made for women in the country and to underscore our long-term commit to the people of Afghanistan," said spokesman Scott McClellan.
The first lady was to announce a 17.7 million dollar grant for the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul as well as a 3.5 million dollar grant for the international elementary school of Afghanistan, he said.
Bush's visit coincided with a trip by Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky to convene the sixth formal meeting of the U.S.-Afghan Women's Council, the US State Department said.
Dobriansky was heading a delegation comprising US officials as well as religious and private sector leaders, the department said in a statement.
03/29/2005 15:40 GMT